I faced the portrait before me and began to paint. As I used the colour palette close to me and drew, the next minute I was done, I looked at the beautiful painting before. It was a naked portrait of a woman in tears. Close to her were two men with double spears trying to attack her and her baby.
The portrait best described me and how life was for me. I was always fond of doing new paintings anytime I was depressed or bothered with anything. I headed to the bathroom, switched on the shower, as the water spiraled around my body I remembered about my encounter last night. As I washed my body, I didn't even realize I started crying, I was in so much pain. I fixed myself something to eat, thinking of how I would visit the supermarket to get new colour palettes. Painting was the best thing I knew the best other than dancing. Back before I lost my parents to a ghastly car crash, I remembered I was so good at painting. I even painted a caricature portrait of my parents and I. My thoughts were distracted by the chiming sound of the kettle. As I turned the hot water into the mug, there was a knocking sound at my door.
It was Rochelle. Rochelle was my partner and best friend. I met her six years ago at the clubhouse. She taught me most of the moves I knew. She was a good dancer and her moves intrigued the men at the clubhouse, but after she taught me her killer moves and steps, I got more attention. Other girls from the classical team expected Rochelle to hate me, but she didn't, she was close to me, and we spent time together.
"What the hell happened Khloe?"
"The manager told me what happened to you last night at the club", Rochelle asked as I opened the door for her to get in.
"Are you hurt?" She asked.
"I'm okay Rochelle" I replied as I closed the door, walking back to the kitchen to make my tea.
"Those rich dumbfuck better stay away from you. You see why I always tell you to stay strapped," Rochelle said, protestedly
Rochelle always advised me to stay strapped while stripping with a private client. She always keeps a pocket knife close to her inner girdle as she dances, so no one plays a game with her. She adviced me to do the same, but I never really thought about it. Perhaps if I had a pocket knife with me, I would have fought those monsters who tried to make their way through me last night, but thanks to the pepper spray.
"Can I get you tea?" I asked Rochelle.
"Please do. I'm so tasty, the weather today is hot", she replied.
I served her tea and some biscuits while she told me how she slept with her previous client from the last VVIP lap dance section.
"That's a beautiful painting" Rochelle complimented.
"Thanks" I said as I looked back at the painting, as it made me sad.
"You know Khloe, I think you should show the world your painting instead of keeping it to die down here in your sitting room and flipping your ass on a pole for the rest of your life," Rochelle said.
"I know Rochelle. I'm saving up for...
"You have been saying this for the past six years. Who the hell are you saving for? Rochelle asked disrupting me
The question rang like a bell to my ear. Rochelle was right. Who the hell was I saving for? I ignored her question as I stood before my painting checking to see if it was now dried.
"It's not like you don't get enough money at the club, they tip us so well. As for me, I'm okay working there, but, girl, you are not happy working there. So Khloe, tell me where is all your money going? Rochelle asked again, looked at me, we looked at each other. I knew it was time to let the cat out of the bag, it was time I told her my secret.
"Come on girl. Tell me, is someone blackmailing you? Does anyone have your nude pictures or videos and is using them against you?" Rochelle asked these different questions calmly hoping for an answer.
"My son" I answered truthfully.
"What? Rochelle asked with a serious look on her face.
"I spend all the money I earn from the clubhouse on my son in Colombia"
The look on Rochelle's face was that of shock. I told no one I had a son. It was a secret I kept to myself for obvious reasons.
"You have a son? Rochelle asked
"Yes Rochelle, I have a son. He's eight years old".
*****************************************************
There was an abrupt silence in the room. Rochelle was still in shock. I expected it because it was a secret before now.
"Yes Rochelle, I have a son" I said, recalling the whole scenario of what happened. I got pregnant by my ex-boyfriend who I once loved, who promised to take care of my baby, but while I was six months pregnant he ran away with a rich woman who I later discovered to be his wife. I also heard he died of cancer two years ago, so unfortunate, I said to myself out of pain.
"Khloe, so you have a son!" Rochelle asked again, still in shock.
"Yes"
"Wow, so. So what's his name?"
"Daniel. He's eight" I replied.
"Wow eight. Who's the father?"
"He's dead. But he left me, he abandoned me". I said as I cried out of control. Rochelle held on to me, consoling me.
"But why did you keep it a secret?"
"I couldn't bear the pain that came from it. I don't want my child to know his mother's a whore"
"You are not a whore. You are a dancer". Rochelle said.
"A stripper", I corrected.
"I'm a stripper Rochelle. I don't want my child to know what I am doing. That's why I took him far away from me. I send anything I earned from stripping to him. I want him to lack nothing, I give him all the comfort". I said as tears continued rolling down from my cheeks. Rochelle held on to me, placed my hair on her shoulders as she patted me.
"Everything is going to be fine" Rochelle said hopefully as she patted my hair this time.
"When?"
"When's everything going to be fine?" I asked.
"Soon I promise. Everything is going to be okay" she said. As I cried on Rochelle's shoulder I knew everything wasn't going to be okay, not now, not soon.
FELIX'S POVThe cabin door swung open with the presence of a dashing presence, a tall man with a conservative physique, holding on to his pocket with an aura of power and boldness, he was dressed in a well tailored suit like that of a tuxedo, his striking figure descends the stairs, as he steps down from the stairs his presence and demeanor drew the attention of the air hostesses and his presence commandeered a high tangible respect for him. His name is Felix Banks, one of the youngest billionaires in Los Angeles who was the son of a famous business tycoon, Bank's empire, owning the majority of prominent buildings and properties, an estate firm, and yachts all around Los Angeles and beyond."Welcome to Los Angeles Sir" an air hostess said to him, smiling."Thank you" he said as he stepped down completely from the six-foot-high jet onto the red carpet that was used to usher him in. There was a flashy line of cars, including a Maybach limousine, Midnight Rider already parked in front of
FELIX POV"What do you mean I have to get married? That's preposterous""It is, but that's a criterion your father has always wanted for anyone that would take after him.""That dumbfuck! Felix said angrily"So if I don't get married what happens?""I think you and I both know what will happen.""Shit" Felix said ."Shit. If I don't get married, it will go to Beverly", Felix added."Yes. Beverly, your step sister will take over from your father""That's not going to happen" Felix said assuringly."What are you going to do for it not to happen" the lawyer asked Felix, looking at him. Beverly had always been in competition with him. He was the first heir of his father, but Beverly was always one step ahead of him. This time he had to be two steps ahead of her.*************************Felix Banks and his friend, Timothy, are having a drink together at a mini bar. Felix tells his best friend, Timothy, about his encounter with his father's lawyer at the hospital."That's ridiculous!" Tim
KHLOE'S POV"He offered you twenty grand? Rochelle asked me"Yes he did""Oh wow, I would marry him for one grand" Rochelle said jokingly"Be serious. He was so annoying. He called me a whore, he said I was nothing but a stripper""He said all that? ""Of course he did, he had no respect for me, he just treated me like I was nothing""But Khloe have you met him before?""He can't just come out and all of a sudden ask you to be his wife""But he did Rochelle""That's weird. Common Khloe it's late. We should head home""I will go get my bag""I will be waiting outside"******FELIX POVFelix joins Timothy in a car parked outside the club."What happened? Timothy asked"She declined. The bitch declined. Who would she say no to such an offer?""Maybe this is sign for you to stop this madness""That's already too late, my mind is made up already" Felix said looking at of the tinted window, he saw Khloe and another girl walking out of the club"There she is" Felix said pointing at Khloe"Are
KHLOE’S POVLife at Felix’s mansion wasn’t easy going for me at all. My room was farther from Felix. I was keen on pretending to be his wife, the room was furnished with everything any woman wished to have. The wardrobe was filled with designer gowns, tailored plainsuits and different colourful couture pieces, the walk-in closets were lined with rows of designer's shoes and handbags of different paired with jewelries worth millions of dollars. Felix had a personal chef assigned to make my dishes, there were beauty and spa treatments whenever I wanted. All of these luxuries came alongside lots of abrupt rules and regulations from Felix.“On no account should you leave this premises without my permission”, Felix ordered.“Do not talk to any members of my family when they visit”“On no account should you enter my room.”“Don’t go through my stuff. I find it very pissing and annoying”“Do not invite anyone over to my mansion”Felix gave me strict orders and I had no choice other than to
FELIX’S POV“I gave you clear instructions not to invite anyone over”“I didn’t, she just came here herself” Khloe said, her eyes were frightened as if she had seen a monster.“You cannot invite your fellow pole dancer to my house, or you will ruin the entire plan.”“I gave you a simple order, and you went against it.” Felix said angrily, holding her by the neck.“I am sorry, but please let me go…..” Khloe begged. Felix was still holding her by the neck.“Let me go” Khloe begged as she was choking, holding Felix’s hand. Felix sighed bitterly, letting her go.“Am I disrupting something?” a staunch female voice asked from behind. Felix looked back, it was his stepsister Beverly. He was startled, he quickly pretended as if everything was okay for Beverly not to suspect a thing.“What are you doing here, Beverly?”“Oh come on, I have come bearing gifts for the newly wedded” she said as some workers entered with different hampers and gift items. Felix and Khloe were looking at the items.“
KHLOE’S POV“Wake up daddy. What the hell is happening?”“Get the doctor. Dad come on”, Stephanie yelled, calling for help.“Don’t you dare touch me you twitchy bitch”. Beverly shouted at me.“Do not talk to her in such a manner!” Felix defended me, not because he wanted to but for him to poise himself like the perfect husband.We arrived at the Bank’s family house for dinner. Stephanie hugged and received me passionately.“You look beautiful, Sis.”“I didn’t get to introduce myself properly the last time, the whole wedding thing between you and Felix just came all of a sudden, and it was hard to comprehend.”“Felix isn’t the marriage type, and it is so good to have you in the family”. Stephanie said to me. She seemed really real and lovely. I liked her.The dining table was set like that of royalty, the table was elegantly decorated and adorned with purple tablecloth with floral polka dots. At the center of the table sits a shining chandelier casting a glow over the tray of differen
FELIX’S POV Felix and his step-sisters quickly escorted the bed trolley out of the ambulance as some nurses and a doctor rushed his father into the VVIP ward. “We will take it up from here?” the doctor said to Felix as they went into the ward. “Will he be okay?” Stephanie asked, almost crying. She got no answer, the ward was closed. Felix pats Stephanie on her shoulders as she walks to get water. Beverly walks close to Felix outside the ward. They both looked at each other. “Have you come to gloat about yourself again?” he asked her. “Not at all.” “Then what do you want?” “My father is in there, I’m just concerned.” “You are only concerned about yourself.” “The lawyer told me” Beverly said to Felix. Felix was puzzled for a while and pretended as if he knew nothing of what she was talking about. “What do you know?” “I know the reason why you got married to that girl”. Felix smirked his lips out of disbelief. “How did you get him to tell you? “There’s nothing a hundred of d
KHLOE’S POV“We have a problem” I told Felix as I entered into his room, he had two girls beside his bed, they were both naked. The naked girls were looking at me with disgust for disrupting their show.“Can’t you knock?”“It’s important” I said looking away“Can’t it wait?”“Because as you can see I have my hands full” he said describing the girls he was with.“It is important” I said keenly, he ordered the girls out, they both walked past me naked eyeing me.“What could be so important this time of the morning?”“See listen Felix, I can’t sleep” I started, he was somehow puzzled at my statement.“What do you mean you can’t sleep?”“Do I look like a doctor to prescribe you some sleeping drugs?”“I think someone recognized me from last night’s auction” I said looking at his face, he was somehow disappointed.“What do mean someone recognized you?”“There was this man, I knew him back at the club and he seemed to recognize me”“Don’t concern yourself with that, it doesn’t matter” he sai